At the young age of only seven, the Ilyium swept through Samarias’s village in a brutal massacre. Sami, his brother, his best friend, and her father fled their world for Earth, making a new home in Washington State. At nine, Sami’s father arrived and yanked his boys away from the security of their new home. At ten, they returned—broken, and silent.

Now at twenty-one, Sami continues to hide the secrets of the past, pretending everything is fine. But it’s all a lie. With his dragon powers awakening, Sami longs for freedom from the pain and guilt, along with a soul mate of his own.

When Sami recently infiltrated an enemy compound and witnessed the Ilyium send a woman to a fiery death, it hit him hard, but he can no longer pretend anymore.

Everything is not as it seems. After learning the woman is alive, and somehow connected to Sami, his world is turned upside down. Confused, angry, and with his emotions unraveling, Sami loses control. When he is called on to fly to Calgary to rescue someone else in trouble, strange things happen, and now he comes face to face with the demons of his past. Sami has some brutal decisions to make, possibly sacrificing what he desires most in order to do the right thing.

Dracones Revelations is the second book in the Dracones series for readers age 17+.

If you are a fan of dark, steamy paranormal romance, get Sami’s story today and be swept into the world of Dragons, Phoenix shifters, Night and Day Walkers, Magic, sensual heat and the revelations of Sami’s past.

Sami is a sexy gentle giant. He’s sweet, kind, smart and hides a huge secret. A secret that has been tearing him apart and as the mysterious actions of the last few weeks start to reveal themselves, will Sami be able to survive all he learns?

“What are you doing here, Sami?” she whispered the question, gazing up at him.

“Brimstone…uh, needed a ride and I’m trying to help find your sister.” Sami gazed down at her, noticing that her lips were just inches from his. Her scent surrounded him, making it hard to concentrate on anything except how close she was to him, and the wondrous feelings racing through him.

“No, that’s not it, is it?” Her eyes narrowed angrily on him.

“I don’t understand…why do you hate me?”

“Who says I hate you?” Her eyes widened in surprise and her voice grew husky as she spoke. Cocking her head to the side just a bit, Hellfire ran her smoky eyes up and down him, making his blood boil under her gaze. Sami fought to stay calm. It sure seemed like she hated him, although now…

“I know what you want…” Her eyes continued to look him over as her hands reached out to touch him again.

“What?” Sami shivered. Her hands slowly ran up the muscles of his chest to his pecs beneath his T-shirt, before moving on to squeeze the muscles in his upper arms. He didn’t dare take his eyes off her.

“Mmm…nice…” She bit her lip as she surveyed him, silver eyes glittering with mischief. Sami’s blood ran hot and his cock strained against his jeans. He held his breath as her gaze slid down to his waistband. Her tongue darted out and wet her lower lip before worrying it between her teeth. Then silver eyes met his, shocking him at the fire he saw in them. “This is what you want…isn’t it?” she asked, wrapping her fingers in his hair, she pulled his head down.

The second Sami’s lips touched Hellfire’s, his blood rushed furiously in his veins and his cock throbbed with a desire to be buried deep inside of her. She tasted better than he could have ever imagined.

“This! This is what you want, isn’t it?” She breathed and pulled away, making him groan. He was on fire, and all his pain and darkness had gone. He wanted her so badly, his pulse was racing, and his dragon was roaring like a gorilla beating its chest for more.

What others are saying…

Sheri-Lynn Marean did it again! She captured my attention within the first few pages, leaving me feeling satisfied about reading her latest addition and craving more. This author is different from most when it comes to her series. I find others are very repetitive in their writings,constant use of same words or sentences, no real individuality for each book, just different characters. Revelations focuses on Sami and his inner demons past and present.

Just like any war there are many battles and obstacles to overcome. Can he find happiness after Hellfire, his destined soulmate? Can he ever make peace with his traumatic childhood and stop blaming himself? Can he learn to be honest about his feelings and stop hiding his pain from his closest loved ones? Only one way to find out and that is by reading the newest addition in the series, I promise you won’t be disappointed. ~ Samaria ~ Goodreads Reviewer

***

Sheri-Lynn Marean and her stories just want to make me squeal with excitement. Dracones is such a different type of Dragon story. The perspective of the children growing up and not fully understanding what a Dragon is capable of makes these so interesting. And this is only the 2nd book. Wow.Dracones Awakening is the first book and explains their journey to Earth and Jax and Tierney part.Dracones Revelations is the 2nd book and it centers on Jax’s brother Sami. His inner struggle with his Dragon and not being able to get the girl Hellfire out of his mind. Hellfire in my opinion will tee you off more than once here, she sure did me lol.I loved the creativity of the characters. I felt their pain and suffering, their hopes and dreams, everything!! That is when you know it’s a wonderful book to read, one you can get lost in. Sweet. ~ Sharon ~ Goodreads Reviewer

Sheri-Lynn Marean, Author of Dracones Awakening, the first book in the Dracones series, resides in western Canada with her husband, three kids, one dog, one cat, and two fish. Sheri did not grow up thinking she would one day be an author. Instead, she grew up riding and working with racehorses, drawing and selling her animal artwork, and of course reading.

Sheri fell in love with reading at age twelve when she read The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley. She has not stopped reading. With a wide variety of reading interests, Sheri’s passion presently is the paranormal romance genre.

One day, after reading an unsatisfying book, she decided she would write her own book, with her own characters, doing what she wanted them to do. She began to type and the characters came to life in her head. She has never looked back.

For a thousand years the Ilyium druids have hunted the Dracones without mercy.

Tierney and her friends were seven when the enemy swept through their village in a brutal massacre. Terrified, they fled the realm of Tartaria for Earth. Keeping their Dracone identity secret, they grow to adulthood in Washington state.

But no matter how far they run from the nightmares, escape is impossible. Which is crystal clear every time Tierney gazes into the tormented eyes of the man she loves.

As a kid, Jax only wanted to protect his brother. He ended up abused, broken and full of rage. Now, with his Awakening approaching, his powers become unpredictable. If he survives the change allowing him to shift into his dragon, he fears endangering the one he loves above all others; Tierney.

Their past catches up when Tierney has a vision of the Ilyium beheading her father. Ancient instincts are triggered as Tierney and Jax battle to overcome their legacy, learn to trust in themselves and each other in order to save her father and avoid the Ilyium’s sinister plans.

Dracones Awakening is the first book in the Dracones series for readers age 17+.

If you are a fan of dark, steamy, paranormal romance, you will love Tierney and Jax’s story. Buy this book today to be swept up into the magical world of dragons, magic and angst ridden sensual heat.

Who is Tierney?
Tierney is an empath with a fierce disposition and a fiery temper. Having grown up with three males, she is bossy and used to getting her way…until Jax refuses to admit he is her mate…

~Excerpt~

Fate is a twisted bitch! Tierney leaned close to the tank of her shiny new Ducati and raced down the highway in rural Washington. The dark clouds hummed with a promise of snow, though at the moment only a faint mist fell, just enough to make the roads slick and perilous. Her mood volatile, she accelerated around the next curve, not caring about the danger as she tried to escape the fear threatening to overtake her.
Tierney’s mind was in turmoil. She had hoped the chill wind and fast ride would ease her stress, but it failed. She shuddered as nausea rolled through her at the memory of her recent vision. A vision of her dad, a Fallen Angel, surrounded by black robed figures. Their enemy, the Ilyium….
After she exited the highway to a tree-lined, rutted track, Tierney spotted two sets of fresh tire tracks and grinned. Looks like my hunch might pay off. This case may be closed before it even gets started…But her grin faded the further in she rode. A canopy of trees blocked the darkening sky and the eerie, dark forest made her dragon senses crawl with unease….

Damn. Where are you, Dad? It’s been seven days… He was supposed to be gone only two. Worried sick, she absently scanned the sparse trees and brush until a sudden eerie cold claimed her and everything blurred. Frowning, she braked hard, stopped and looked around.
Everything appeared darker than it had a second ago. She glanced around and scowled. A faint light circled the ground in front of her. What? How? She watched the light for a moment before raising her eyes to the even darker sky which now appeared different than it had just moments before.
Tierney blinked as everything turned wavy. Like one picture superimposed over another, the sky lightened. She frowned. Another set of lighter, fluffier clouds appeared along with the faint silhouette of a bird. The more she focused on the bird the clearer it became.
The large black ghost-like raven circled above her head. Tierney blinked again and the sky returned to normal—no sign of the bird. And she was no longer cold. Fabulous, now I’m seeing things. Still scowling, she gave the bike some gas and refocused on the dirt track.
A moment later Sami’s voice filled her head. ‘Tierney. Where the hell are you?’ Sami asked telepathically. He was one of her best friends and like a beloved brother to her.
‘Sorry, I’m on my way home. You hear anything from Dad or Jax?’ She looked both ways before turning back onto the highway.
‘Nothing on Dad, and Jax texted, he’s running late.’
Huh, no surprise. Wonder if he’ll even show? ‘Okay, thanks, Sami.’
Tierney was impatient to get home and swore when she ended up behind a slow old man driving a rusty pickup truck. A steady stream of oncoming cars filled the other lane, making her sit tight. When the last car went by, she sucked in a breath, exhaled and gunned the Ducati. She blew past the truck and kept going while acid churned in her gut as she worried over her dad, Sami, and his brother, Jax…
She shoved thoughts of her dad away as her earlier unease, a sense of being spied upon, grew stronger. A quick glance in her side mirror showed a large black Escalade hot on her tail. Jerk! Attention back on the road, she gunned the bike and shot forward.
The black behemoth caught up, making her growl in anger. What’s this creep’s problem? She thought, when a menacing voice drifted through her head. ‘Nice ass.’
A chill shot through her. ‘Who are you?’ She asked, even though her instincts screamed to get away. She was too stubborn to listen.
‘Someone who’s been waiting a long time for you.’

For a thousand years the Ilyium druids have hunted the Dracones without mercy.

Tierney and her friends were seven when the enemy swept through their village in a brutal massacre. Terrified, they fled the realm of Tartaria for Earth. Keeping their Dracone identity secret, they grow to adulthood in Washington state.

But no matter how far they run from the nightmares, escape is impossible. Which is crystal clear every time Tierney gazes into the tormented eyes of the man she loves.

As a kid, Jax only wanted to protect his brother. He ended up abused, broken and full of rage. Now, with his Awakening approaching, his powers become unpredictable. If he survives the change allowing him to shift into his dragon, he fears endangering the one he loves above all others; Tierney.

Their past catches up when Tierney has a vision of the Ilyium beheading her father. Ancient instincts are triggered as Tierney and Jax battle to overcome their legacy, learn to trust in themselves and each other in order to save her father and avoid the Ilyium’s sinister plans.

Dracones Awakening is the first book in the Dracones series for readers age 17+.

If you are a fan of dark, steamy, paranormal romance, you will love Tierney and Jax’s story. Buy this book today to be swept up into the magical world of dragons, magic and angst ridden sensual heat.

Who is Jaxsaron?
Jax is a male battling the demons of his past. With growing powers and a dark rage he can’t control, he’d rather die than endanger the few he loves.

~Excerpt~

The six men’s fear was palpable as inky darkness seeped from Jax like a furious entity bent on vengeance… Their attempt to kidnap a young teen had been thwarted… Without realizing Jax was a Dracones, they did recognize him as a Supe, and grinning, they attacked…. one guy managed to get past Jax and put his knife to the kids throat.
Hell no, he didn’t just do that! As the skinny teen began to shake, and his eyes widened in fear, Jax’s anger spiked. The dark rage that lurked inside him erupted, causing a cloying black cloud to seep from within him and fill the alley. Fear and piss filled the air as the screams from six throats were cut off. Blood sprayed everywhere and Jax was sucked into a vortex of horror-filled memories.
Screams of terror from long ago drifted on the wind while a fiery inferno tore mercilessly through their village. Cold, menacing death grasped anyone left alive with uncaring hands, leaving destruction in its wake. Jax tried to shake the memories free, but other memories invaded. Evil laughter haunted him as a long ago agony took over, leaving him bloody, chained and helpless. Filled with pain and shame, he struggled to get free. Then the hated voice repeatedly called him a piece of shit, telling him how weak, dirty, pathetic he was. How he’d never be any good and no one would ever love him.
Jax gripped his head, chest heaving, and pushed the ghosts of his past away. The hilts of both knives pressed into his skull as he resisted the urge to vomit. He leaned against the filthy brick wall in the dingy alleyway and fought the darkness threatening to consume him. Stop! With a growl of anger, he thumped his head back against the bricks, the pain helping ease the darkness from his mind.
The black fog dissolved, leaving the coppery scent of blood, along with an odor of weak magic, making him grimace. Chest heaving, he straightened up and turned in a circle, looking at the bodies. Damnit! I hate when this shit happens…

~Meet Sheri-Lynn Marean~
Sheri-Lynn Marean, Author of Dracones Awakening, the first book in the Dracones series, resides in western Canada with her husband, three kids, one dog, one cat, and two fish. Sheri did not grow up thinking she would one day be an author. Instead, she grew up riding and working with racehorses, drawing and selling her animal artwork, and of course reading.

Sheri fell in love with reading at age twelve when she read The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley. She has not stopped reading. With a wide variety of reading interests, Sheri’s passion presently is the paranormal romance genre.

One day, after reading an unsatisfying book, she decided she would write her own book, with her own characters, doing what she wanted them to do. She began to type and the characters came to life in her head. She has never looked back.

At the young age of only seven, the Ilyium swept through Samarias’s village in a brutal massacre. Sami, his brother, his best friend, and her father fled their world for Earth, making a new home in Washington State. At nine, Sami’s father arrived and yanked his boys away from the security of their new home. At ten, they returned—broken, and silent.

Now at twenty-one, Sami continues to hide the secrets of the past, pretending everything is fine. But it’s all a lie. With his dragon powers awakening, Sami longs for freedom from the pain and guilt, along with a soul mate of his own.

When Sami recently infiltrated an enemy compound and witnessed the Ilyium send a woman to a fiery death, it hit him hard, but he can no longer pretend anymore.

Everything is not as it seems. After learning the woman is alive, and somehow connected to Sami, his world is turned upside down. Confused, angry, and with his emotions unraveling, Sami loses control. When he is called on to fly to Calgary to rescue someone else in trouble, strange things happen, and now he comes face to face with the demons of his past. Sami has some brutal decisions to make, possibly sacrificing what he desires most in order to do the right thing.

Dracones Revelations is the second book in the Dracones series for readers age 17+.

If you are a fan of dark, steamy paranormal romance, get Sami’s story today and be swept into the world of Dragons, Phoenix shifters, Night and Day Walkers, Magic, sensual heat and the revelations of Sami’s past.

Sheri-Lynn Marean did it again! She captured my attention within the first few pages, leaving me feeling satisfied about reading her latest addition and craving more. This author is different from most when it comes to her series. I find others are very repetitive in their writings,constant use of same words or sentences, no real individuality for each book, just different characters. Revelations focuses on Sami and his inner demons past and present.

Just like any war there are many battles and obstacles to overcome. Can he find happiness after Hellfire, his destined soulmate? Can he ever make peace with his traumatic childhood and stop blaming himself? Can he learn to be honest about his feelings and stop hiding his pain from his closest loved ones? Only one way to find out and that is by reading the newest addition in the series, I promise you won’t be disappointed. ~ Samaria ~ Goodreads Reviewer

***

Sheri-Lynn Marean and her stories just want to make me squeal with excitement. Dracones is such a different type of Dragon story. The perspective of the children growing up and not fully understanding what a Dragon is capable of makes these so interesting. And this is only the 2nd book. Wow.Dracones Awakening is the first book and explains their journey to Earth and Jax and Tierney part.Dracones Revelations is the 2nd book and it centers on Jax’s brother Sami. His inner struggle with his Dragon and not being able to get the girl Hellfire out of his mind. Hellfire in my opinion will tee you off more than once here, she sure did me lol.I loved the creativity of the characters. I felt their pain and suffering, their hopes and dreams, everything!! That is when you know it’s a wonderful book to read, one you can get lost in. Sweet. ~ Sharon ~ Goodreads Reviewer

Sheri-Lynn Marean, Author of Dracones Awakening, the first book in the Dracones series, resides in western Canada with her husband, three kids, one dog, one cat, and two fish. Sheri did not grow up thinking she would one day be an author. Instead, she grew up riding and working with racehorses, drawing and selling her animal artwork, and of course reading.

Sheri fell in love with reading at age twelve when she read The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley. She has not stopped reading. With a wide variety of reading interests, Sheri’s passion presently is the paranormal romance genre.

One day, after reading an unsatisfying book, she decided she would write her own book, with her own characters, doing what she wanted them to do. She began to type and the characters came to life in her head. She has never looked back.

Grab this hot MMA fighter today!

Blurb:

“I hate that I love you,” she said. “You left me.”

“I lost you, there’s a difference. Now that I found you, I intend to keep you.”

Lost.

I’d tasted the sweetest fruit of temptation, and I wanted another bite. I had promised myself before, but once wasn’t enough. The savory flavor of her lingered long after I’d lost her. Contending with the pressure to return to the fight, in order to prove myself to my father and the world, I had to let her go.

Found.

It has been a year. Sofie Vincentia and I had played a dangerous game. For one night, we pretended, only to discover our farce was real. I’d lost her, but I hadn’t stopped searching, hoping for her return. I was used to getting what I wanted, so when she didn’t come to me, I had to go after her. This would be the greatest fight of my life.

Start the series now!

BUY NOW

I’d love to say I’ve written for 10,000 hours, and that makes me a pro. But I can’t say that. What I can say is I had a story in my head that wouldn’t go away. I thought typing it in my computer would be the end of things, but it only led to another story and another. I love reading, so characters in my head isn’t something new. What is new is my creation of them. Hope you enjoy my favorites as much as I do. Happy reading!

Ever since Violet Forrester first moved next door to Brianna, she has been tortured relentlessly…

It seems like Brianna has everything, and yet she still doesn’t have the one thing she really wants; the one thing that Violet cares about the most—Blake Edwards.

After years of letting Brianna walk all over her, Violet’s finally had enough. She’s tired of sitting back and watching Brianna flirt with her boyfriend, steal her friends, and push her around. She’s finally ready to stand up for herself.

To do this, Violet and her new friend, Lena, devise a plan to make Brianna realize that not everything is hers for the taking, and Violet knows the perfect way to do it…

After all, nothing is better than revenge.

That is, until someone gets hurt.

SCARLET AWAKENING

With the drama of the school year behind them, sisters Lena and Ella Snotty are off to California for the summer…

Their parents have recently separated, and the sisters are becoming closer, though Lena can’t get past wanting to know more about their fractured family. While unpacking, Lena finds a photo of their mother with the twins she gave up for adoption, and notices something very strange.

In the photo, there’s a man she’s never seen before…

Assuming it must be the man who adopted the twins, Lena and Ella set out to find him so they can meet their younger siblings. As they search, Lena reconnects with Carter Anderson, the boy she dumped abruptly the year before, causing her to wonder whether or not she should return to Virginia in the fall.

Did the man in the picture truly adopt the twins—or is John Symmes someone else altogether?

A journey through the past might just change their lives forever…

PLAYING WITH FIRE

Ella Snotty is worth more than a quickie…

After a family scandal tore their family apart, seventeen-year-old Ella chooses to stay in California with her mom for the rest of the school year. Things are lonely since her sister Lena went to live with their dad. But at least she has her new boyfriend, Shane Quinn, to make things a little less depressing.

Ella isn’t the only girl who thinks Shane is swoon-worthy…

Shane takes Ella out to blow off some steam, and the party isn’t short on alcohol. When a tipsy old flame “falls” into Shane’s lap, her spontaneous kiss makes Ella more than a little jealous. And when details of Shane’s dating history surface, Ella is determined to be more than a fling.

The V-word will slow things down…

Afraid Shane wants to use her for a little fun, Ella lies and says she’s a virgin. According to his reputation, Shane has commitment issues. Maybe it’ll make him stick around long enough for them to form a real connection before the physical sparks fly. But is he worth the lie? And what happens when both of their insecurities come crumbling down like a house of cards?

She wants his heart. He’s afraid to commit. As the pressure mounts, will they find comfort in each other? Or will they learn that when playing with fire, you risk getting burned?

The hot summer sun was beating down on us as we sat together on the side of the pool. Leaning forward, I dipped one foot into the water and made small circles, causing the clear water to ripple and shine in the bright sunlight. I could feel the heat radiating off of his body as he snaked his arm around my waist. Despite the heat I leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder as I breathed in his scent. The strong smell of his aftershave mixed with citrus from his shampoo enveloped me, fogging my thoughts.

“Want to take a swim?” Blake looked at me with a small smirk on his sun-tanned face that made my heart melt.

I couldn’t help but notice the way his blue eyes twinkled every time he looked at me. A small breeze blew a few strands of his black hair into his eyes as I cupped his cheek with my hand.

“I dare you,” I whispered as I leaned in closer to him, pressing my lips gently to his.

He kissed me back softly, allowing his lips to mold and move in sync with mine, before pulling back and smirking at me. “I never turn down a good dare!” he exclaimed with a laugh as he shoved me into the pool.

The cold water slapped against my body, folding in around me on all sides until I was completely submerged. I had just barely managed to take in a breath before I had been so rudely shoved into the pool, and I was thankful that I had. When my toes touched the bottom of the deep end I kicked off of the concrete, propelling myself back upward. Once my head broke the surface I rubbed the chlorinated water from my eyes and squinted up at where Blake had been sitting moments ago.

A chorus of giggles erupted from the opposite direction and I turned my head to see Blake walking toward the fence that separated my yard from my neighbor’s, laughing at something that Brianna, the stuck up princess who lived next door, had said. She giggled, tossing her hair lightly as she spoke again, leaning her body against the wooden fence. As Blake drew near her, she leaned her body forward and pulled him into a tight hug, pressing her chest to his body while rolling her eyes at me, and smirking. I responded with a glare that only deepened when she mouthed the word, “Mine,” before she pulled away. The only word she has known ever since we were little.

Since I was younger, and even now, Brianna has been associated with some of my worst memories. As I watched her talk to my boyfriend while tossing me sly glares I remembered seventh grade when Brianna had done everything in her power to make my life miserable. Not even a month into the school year she had found a way to turn all of my friends against me. She dug a hole into my friend group, put herself in, and took me out. She had a leader quality in her, that was for sure. All of my friends followed her in spreading rumors about me, and isolating me from the main group.

I had learned at a young age how to entertain myself, and I had even gotten use to being alone. Her actions, and the actions of my so-called friends had shown me that trust shouldn’t be doled out easily. Trust is something to be given to those who deserve it. That was something that had stuck with me, and was probably the reason I had so few friends to this very day.

Logically, I knew that I was able to change that, but my trust issues ran deep, and I blamed Brianna. Even at a young age she had been conniving and evil. Nothing about her personality has really changed. She’s still conniving and evil—just more so.

That was just one of the many times that the stuck up bitch, formally known as Brianna Richardson, had taken something that was mine and made it hers, and I was tired of it. Brianna was the type of girl who had been spoiled and put on a pedestal her whole life, and I hated people like that. I wanted to rip the silver spoon from her smirking mouth and shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. It was about time that she learned other people have feelings too, and I was just the person to teach her that.

SCARLET AWAKENING – EXCERPT 2

I pulled a long sleeve sweater from deep within the confines of my suitcase, and stared at it quizzically. Wow, I really did go overboard packing. I know that I had said that I was packing in preparation for anything that came my way, but seriously, a long sleeve sweater? Did I think that sometime during my visit, San Diego was going to be hit by a blizzard?

Shaking my head, I folded the sweater neatly and tucked it away into the bottom drawer of my dresser. I had been unpacking for nearly two hours now, and so far I hadn’t gotten far. I blamed my lack of progress on my short attention span, and my laziness. So far, I had managed to organize each drawer according to clothing article. I had separate drawers for bottoms, tops, bathing suits, undergarments, pajamas, and miscellaneous. The sweater was placed into the miscellaneous drawer where it was accompanied by a thin raincoat, sweat pants, and a pair of gray leg-warmers. Seriously, I had a packing problem.

My phone buzzed on the dull hardwood floor just a few inches away from my thigh. I scooped the phone up and smiled at the screen when I saw that the message was from Violet. She had been sending me cute videos of her sister, Lilly, all morning. Lilly had started taking dance lesson a few months ago, and she had her first recital coming up in a week so she would practice throughout the house, despite her mom’s efforts. I unlocked the phone, which instantly opened the message to show another video. Along with the video, Violet had sent a message telling me to listen to her mom.

Smiling, I hit play on the video, and watched closely as the camera focused on a dancing, tutu-clad Lilly. She was spinning around the Forrester’s living room, weaving in and out of the furniture and doing ballet-style leaps over little obstacles that littered the floor. The obstacles were little stuffed animals, and toys that Lilly had probably set up.

“Watch this, Lizzie,” Lilly’s voice blasted from my phone’s speaker. She stopped moving and faced the camera head on, then smiled so brightly that her eyes scrunched up some. Her dark curls continued to bounce around her face from the previous motion. “I, Lilly Forrester, am going to do something that no other dancer can do.” She raised her arms high over her head, and proceeded to do a cartwheel from the living room into the dining room where her mom was.

I heard Mrs. F. let out a shriek, and it soundly like she was about to have an aneurysm or something. The shriek caused Lilly to lose her footing, and fall onto her butt. “No cartwheels!” Violet’s mom spoke loudly. She wasn’t yelling, but she was definitely worked up. “You could break your neck!” Then the video ended, and I laughed loudly at her words. Mrs. F. was known for being an extreme worrywart. I thought that it was hilarious, while Violet thought that her mom was crazy. I was sure that if I had grown up with her as my mom, I would think she was crazy too.

I shook my head; still smiling to myself about the video as I typed back a reply about how her mom was hilarious, before setting my phone back on the ground and staring into my suitcase again. I would probably be done now if I had continuously stuck with unpacking when I first started. I had begun right after breakfast, and Ella and I had decided to have a race to see who could finish first. She won.

It wasn’t fair really. I had more to unpack than she did, so I should have gotten a head start. It had only taken her half an hour to unpack everything. How was that possible? When she finished and had come up to brag about her winning, I no longer saw the point in rushing, and began to take my sweet time. I had even taken a break to go talk to grandpa who had been doing a little organizing of his own. Apparently grandma had given him the task of cleaning out the once guest room that had been converted to a storage room. She didn’t want me to be stuck up in the attic room for my whole visit. I was fine being in the attic, but grandma disagreed.

So when I went to see grandpa, he had been in the middle of trying to figure out the most effective way to begin cleaning the room. In my opinion the most effective way to begin cleaning was to start, but he was sure that there was a certain way that he needed to tackle his task. When I left him, he was grumbling about who was the person to come up with the saying, “Happy wife, happy life.” At the moment, making grandma happy by cleaning was not making his life happy.

Sighing, I shook my thoughts from my mind and reached into my bag again, pulling out a cute, red sundress that I had gotten on my last trip to the mall with Ella. I hadn’t worn it yet, but I was excited to get the chance too. Red had always been my favorite color. Not only was it just a nice color in general, but also I felt like it made me look sexy, and mysterious. It probably didn’t, but a girl could dream. Standing, I went to hang the dress up in my closet, along with the other dresses that I had already hung up. This unpacking thing was rapidly becoming tedious.

With a groan, I leaned my back against the foot-board of my bed that faced the closet. Maybe I could convince Ella to help me finish up? Just as I was about to stand, my eye caught a little corner of a piece of paper that was poking out from behind the dresser. I furrowed my brows at the sight of it, wondering what it could be. The rest of the room had been completely empty when I arrived, so I was curious to see what this was. It was probably nothing, but either way my interest was piqued.

Pushing myself away from the bed, I walked toward the dresser, crouching down next to it as I gripped the corner of the paper and pulled it from its hiding place. I unfolded it, seeing the back first. There was one sentence scrawled across the back. It was short, and sweet.

Keep us in your memories.

That was all that it said. There was no name signed under it, or even a date. Just that one sentence. Now I was really curious. Flipping the paper over, my jaw dropped almost instantly. It was a picture of my mom in the hospital, holding one bundle of white in each arm, with a man standing next to her. I could see now why there was no name or date listed on the back. The date was obvious. The picture had to have been taken on August 8th, the day that my mom gave birth to the twins. That was the first and last time that she had seen them. I assumed that the man in the picture was the guy who had adopted them, and probably the owner of the handwriting on the back as well.

I stood hurriedly, and took the stairs down from my room to go find Ella. Luckily, she was sitting in her room listening to music. I entered without knocking, earning a glare. I didn’t care though. I knew that she would want to see this.

Moving toward where she was sprawled across her bed, I trusted the photograph out to her. She took it curiously, staring at the front in silent before flipping it over to read the back.

“Do you recognize him?” she asked me, eyebrows furrowed.

I shook my head no. “He’s got to be the guy who adopted the babies. Why else would he be in the picture?”

Ella shrugged in response, staring at the front of the photo again. I stood in silence for a moment as she just sat, holding the picture and frowning down at it. Then, with a smile curving her thin lips upward, she met my eyes. “If we found him, we would probably find the babies too.”

The music blasting from the speakers in the living room was so loud that it felt like the house was pulsing to the beat. There were giant speakers set up against the walls, and each piece of furniture, with the exception of a few couches, had been moved out of the living room to make space for a makeshift dance floor. From my position on the loveseat in the corner I could see a group of drunk girls gyrating and grinding against each other to a completely different beat. Each girl was dressed as a cat, and I almost groaned audibly at their costume choice. There were so many damn cat outfits that I’d lost count. Is originality frowned upon on Halloween too, of all days?

Next to me, Carter laughed as one of the girls stumbled in her leopard-print heels and almost toppled over before she was caught by one of her more sober kitty-friends.

“Why aren’t you out there?” Carter asked, leaning toward me and yelling over the music so he could be heard.

I shrugged. Normally I was the type of girl who spent the night dancing in the middle of the crowd until my thighs burned, buttonight was different. I just wasn’t in the mood to dance, or to be social at all. I hadn’t even wanted to come to the party. If it weren’t for Shane and Carter, I would probably be at home right now squandering away the night watching old Disney Halloween movies and avoiding my homework assignments until the last minute. “I can’t find Shane,” I answered. It wasn’t the exact reason, but it was more or less true. About an hour into the party, Shane had disappeared. I told myself the only reason I was wondering where he’d gone was because he was the reason I was here, but everyone knew that wasn’t true.

Carter smirked at me. Shane and I had been dating, for lack of a better word, for nearly three months now and yet he still teased me about it every chance he got. I never teased him about how whipped he was when it came to my sister. The least he could do was extend that same courtesy to me.

“Aw, do you miss him?” he questioned, still smirking. The fact that his face was painted as the Joker only added to my annoyance. It was as if his smirk was extra defined.

I rolled my eyes dramatically.

“Hey, I’m only messing with you,” he said loudly, placing a hand on my shoulder. He offered me a small smile when I made eye contact. “If you find the alcohol, I can promise you you’ll find Shane.”

“Come with me?” I had to lean into his ear as I asked. I could barely hear my own voice.

He nodded in response and we both got to our feet. As soon as our butts left the couch, the wolf and Little Red Riding Hood swooped in to take our seats, then proceeded to make out. Her grandmother would be so disappointed.

Carter led the way out of the room and down the hall toward the kitchen. I’d only been in this house one other time for a party at the beginning of the year, and was surprised I remembered my way around. As we entered the room, we wove in and out of people who were standing around, guzzling substances from their red plastic cups. Some people had really gotten into the Halloween spirit and went all out for their costumes, while others had taken the easy route by sticking animal ears on their heads and calling it a night. If I had originally planned on coming to the party then my costume would’ve been way better than it was. Instead, I was wearing the same costume I wore last year to Brianna’s Halloween party—Marilyn Monroe.

I scanned the room as Carter and I made our way through the growing throng of our peers. Shane wasn’t anywhere in sight. I was rapidly becoming annoyed. How rude is it to force someone to come to a party with you, and then just ditch them? Very.

I followed closely behind Carter as he exited the kitchen through a sliding glass door and headed out onto the deck. The hot day had turned into a warm, breezy night. The sky was dark, but light came from tiki torches and the many candle-lit, carved pumpkins that surrounded the backyard. Almost instantly after I stepped out onto the porch, Shane walked up to me with a big smile on his handsome face.

“Ella!” he yelled, throwing his arms around me and pulling me in for a bone-crushing hug. The strong smell of alcohol hit my nose as he nuzzled his head into the crook of my neck. “I missed you,” he mumbled against my skin, sending tingles down my spine when he kissed my neck. The way my body reacted to him only served to annoy me further. I was mad at him for making me come out tonight, and then leaving me on the couch for nearly an hour while he drank. He did not deserve my affection right now.

I pushed him back by his shoulders, keeping him at arm’s length as I said, “If you missed me then you would’ve come inside and gotten me. Have you been out here the whole time?”

He nodded hard, causing his blond hair to fall into his eyes. Then, catching me off guard, he placed his hands on my cheeks and guided my face to his. He kissed me hard for a moment before I pulled away. If it was possible, he tasted worse than he smelled. Carter laughed as I scrunched my nose in disgust.

“What are you doing?” I groaned, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. I ignored the hurt in his eyes as he pouted.

“I just wanted to kiss you,” he answered, running a hand through his hair and glancing to the side.

I sighed, pulling him away from the door, down the steps into the yard, and over to a lawn chair. Carter followed us and stood with his arms crossed over his chest, just watching us in amusement. “You smell terrible,” I said, trying not to stand downwind of him. “How much did you drink?”

Shane shrugged as he dropped down into the chair. My gaze trailed from his face to his chest, which was on full display in his costume. He was one of the people who had taken the easy route out for a costume, and bought a cheap boy scout’s vest from the costume store earlier today. He paired it with some khaki shorts, and was ready for a night out. The vest was open and showed off his tan abs and muscular arms. I wasn’t the only one who was noticing either. Other girls were milling around the yard, obviously checking him out, and it was kind of pissing me off.

Shane pulled me down onto the chair with him, hugging me tightly to his chest. His muscular arms flexed as they circled my waist, and he leaned down to rest his chin on my shoulder. He sighed deeply. “You smell so good,” he commented.

Carter rolled his eyes. “I’m gonna go see if I can find him a bottle of water or something. He’s gotta sober up before he gets home or his mom will have an aneurysm.”

“Got it,” Carter replied, turning to head back into the house where I could see people dancing in the kitchen through the plate glass door.

More people were beginning to come outside, probably because of how crowded it was inside. It was hot in there, and there was hardly any space to move around. The only downside to being out here was that the music was only a dull thud. You could hear the beat, but it was hard to tell what song was playing. At least outside I could actually hear myself think.

I turned my head slightly so I could see Shane’s face as his head rested on my shoulder. When I moved, he opened his eyes and his gaze met mine. Then he shifted his eyes and looked around in front of us. Returning his gaze to mine, he sat up as he said, “He’s gone!”

He looked so cute and happy that I couldn’t help but smile at him. “Carter?”

Shane nodded in response. “I was waiting for him to leave.”

“Why is that?”

He smirked. “So I could do this,” he answered, turning me slightly as he leaned in to kiss me again. I pulled away before he could.

I placed my hands on his chest and held him back as he tried to lean in again. “Damn boy, you need to calm down. Your hormones are on a whole ’nother level right now.”

“It’s the outfit.” He raised an eyebrow at me as he pulled at the material of my white dress. “I always had a thing for Marilyn Monroe.” He winked, and even in his drunken stupor he managed to look so sexy that I almost swooned. How that was possible, I had no clue.

“Well, Marilyn is taking a vow of abstinence.”

Shane groaned. His mood changed so quickly. He went from flirtatious to looking like someone just ran over his puppy.

I laughed lightly as he pouted. “We really need to get you home.”

Shane instantly took the bait and his smirk returned full force. “You wanna take me home?”

“Yes, but not in the way you’re implying,” I answered, rolling my eyes at how cheesy his suggestion was. Then I glanced up and looked toward the door, hoping to see Carter coming out, but he wasn’t. “Where is Carter? He said he’d be right back.”

Sighing, I tried to push myself up, but Shane tightened his arms around me so I couldn’t stand. “Shane, I’m going to find Carter. Just wait here for me to get back. Do not move.”

Pouting, he let me go. Then he crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair, frowning.

“Seriously, don’t go anywhere.” I stared at him until he said he wouldn’t move, and then I headed back toward the house.

As soon as I entered through the back door the sound of the music filled my ears again. Everything was loud inside. People were yelling over the music, laughing, and singing. I had no idea how I was supposed to find Carter if he wasn’t in the kitchen. After I looked around the room and saw that he wasn’t there, I continued to push my way through the crowd. I hardly recognized anyone from school other than people who hung out with Carter and Shane. When I was almost out of the kitchen, a tall girl dressed as a pirate came hurtling around the corner and ran straight into me, spilling the cups of beer she had in each hand all over the front of my dress and down my legs. I groaned loudly, shaking the beer from my hands, and then holding the front of my dress away from my body as she apologized and ran off.

Now I’m going to smell like beer, I thought with a sigh. Holding my now wet dress away from my body, I walked down the main hall, scanning the throng of people for Carter. As I neared the bathroom door, it opened, and out walked Carter with a satisfied expression on his face. I almost wanted to hit him.

When he spotted me, he laughed, but it was covered by the music.

I marched toward him, taking him by the arm and pulling him to the kitchen, where he grabbed one of the many bottles of water that sat amongst the nearly empty bottles of liquor. Then we headed back outside, into the night.

“You look horrible,” Carter commented, gesturing to my beer stains.

I frowned in response. “Thanks, that’s what every girl wants to hear,” I said, the sarcasm heavy in my voice. “Let’s just get this water to Shane, so we can get out of here.”

Carter nodded, and we both turned our attention away from each other and to where I left Shane. I was happy to see he was still sitting there. I took the four patio steps down to the yard, and froze as I watched some girl stumble toward Shane. It was like one of those scenes in a movie where the main character knows in her gut that something bad is about to happen, but is powerless to stop it.

The girl was dressed scantily as a damn black cat, with her dark hair curled and two little cat ears sticking out of her hair at the top. When she got to Shane she plopped down into his lap, tossed her arms around his neck, and kissed him with everything she had in her. My heart clenched at the sight, and I felt anger bubble up inside of me. My head swam for the two seconds that she kissed him until Shane pushed her away. I felt like my blood was boiling, I was so mad.

Shane stood up, placing the girl on her feet and holding his hands up in a surrendering motion. I watched as his lips moved, and then the girl crossed her arms and stormed off. As soon as she turned away from him, Shane turned slightly and his gaze met mine. He looked apologetic, and it seemed as if that one action had sobered him up quick.

I didn’t know what to think. Why the hell did she feel comfortable enough to just come over and start kissing him? Was I missing something?

I didn’t wait to find out though, because as soon as Shane took a step toward me, obviously coming to explain, I turned away and headed back into the house. It was time to go.

I should’ve stayed home.

Taylor Henderson is a psychology major at the University of Mary Washington who was born and raised in Northern Virginia. She has been an adamant reader and writer since she was young, and has always found solace in the worlds and characters that other authors have brought to life in their works. Taylor plans to continue writing, and hopes to expand to different genres in the future.

Gavriel Ambrosios has been dreaming of his accident prone mate for weeks. Now that he is nearing the apex of his vampiric transition, she has made her way to Lycaonia, just when he is at his most dangerous.

Elizabeth Monroe was planning on staying in Lycaonia while humans forgot about the swan dive she took out of her boss’s office window. Little did she know that this short side trip was about to become permanent. Gavriel is the mate she has always dreamed of. Even as he sweeps her off her feet his need to protect her has him pushing her away. She’s both concerned with and drawn to his darker nature, but is determined to see him through his transition.

In the shadows their enemy has targeted Gavriel when they know he is at his most vulnerable. They creep ever closer to the Alpha estate putting the men on high alert.

But as the days get shorter and the nights get longer Elizabeth begins to wonder, which is the bigger threat? The enemy or her mate?

For the Clan by Archer Kay Leah

Release Date: May 25, 2016

Publisher: Less Than Three Press

Genre: Science Fiction Romance

Canada, 2165 AD. The Water Wars and a decimated economy have taken their toll. Anyone who doesn’t live in a military-patrolled metropolis lives in a clan. But being in a clan doesn’t mean safety.

And for a Ven like Roan Lee, it doesn’t matter where he lives. Safety is a luxury. So is freedom.

Roan is desperate to escape the governtary’s exploitation and torture. He is nothing to them but 54σK1, an artifact born from a genetic mishap. When the chance to escape arises, he makes a run for it—and encounters the lover from his past, twisting his future into a second chance he never expected.

As leaders of Clan Teach, Jace Ama and his wife, Cayra Diega, have enough difficulty keeping their people safe. When Roan is thrown to their feet as a prisoner, their marriage becomes an additional challenge. Jace still loves Roan, but where does that place Cayra?

Excerpt:

The light jumped and twirled, spinning until wisps formed the body of a large bird. Graceful ribbons of orange and yellow light laced together, taking the shape of wings and a trailing crown of feathers almost as vivid as the long red and gold tail.

Black eyes and a beak faced them before the bird took flight. It soared across the breeze and flew around the trees. Ethereal and shining, the bird plummeted through the leaves, shaking branches all the way down. Small birds squawked and fled their nests, disappearing into the dark.

The bird swooped low towards Jace’s knees, knocking him back. It circled Jace, the delicate feathers of light sweeping across his cheeks, casting him in a soft red glow. Jace’s gaze glimmered with awe as the bird shot towards the sky and winked out of existence. Small particles of light sprinkled the forest like pixie dust.

In the raining red and yellow light, Jace pulled Roan close by the collar and kissed him. There was nothing gentle in it, only raging passion.

Roan pulled Jace back by the waist and leaned against a tree, their ragged breaths deafening him. Maybe one day they’d have more. Maybe one day…

Leaves crunched. Whispers caught on the breeze. The air wafted, carrying the odour of sweat and chemical fumes.

Roan pushed Jace back. The hair on Roan’s neck stood on end.

A dark figure launched towards them from the darkness. An unmarked metal canister hit the ground at Roan’s feet.

Yelping, Roan fell. Through the dissipating smoke, soldiers in black uniforms and masks rushed at him, their assault rifles aimed at his head and heart. Military. The governtary. No!

He struggled to stand. Lunging forward, he struck at the blurred faces.

A rifle slammed down on his wrists before the butt of the gun smashed his jaw.

“Down on the ground, Ven,” a soldier demanded, threatening to hit Roan again.

“Roan!” Jace screamed from behind them.

On instinct, Roan stared past the soldiers to the faint light from a headlamp. Even with burning retinas, he could see Jace in the hold of Kai and Vera, two sentries from Clan Teach. Moham’s guards and friends. Kai’s tall, broad body seized Jace by the waist while Vera’s lithe form fought Jace’s arms. They hauled Jace back, navigating towards the camp settlement.

“Last time, lab elf. Hands. Head. Now!” The soldier in front of Roan jammed the gun to Roan’s groin.

Groaning, Roan collapsed in surrender. Soldiers jerked his arms as they clamped cold metal cuffs over his injured wrists. They yanked him up and pushed him in the opposite direction of the settlement, his hands hanging limp in front of him.

“Don’t let them take you,” Jace hollered. “Don’t leave me.”

Roan spun on his heel. In the distance, barely visible in the light from Kai’s helmet, Kai and Vera dragged Jace, hitting him as he continued to struggle. Jace wrenched one arm free, reaching for Roan with an open palm.

About the Author:

Archer Kay Leah was raised in Canada, growing up in a port town at a time when it was starting to become more diverse, both visibly and vocally. Combined with the variety of interests found in Archer’s family and the never-ending need to be creative, this diversity inspired a love for toying with characters and their relationships, exploring new experiences and difficult situations.

Archer most enjoys writing speculative fiction and is engaged in a very particular love affair with fantasy, especially when it is dark and emotionally charged. When not reading and writing for work or play, Archer is a geek with too many hobbies and keeps busy with other creative endeavors, a music addiction, and whatever else comes along. Archer lives in London, Ontario with a same-sex partner and their cat.

(use of Adobe Stock images does not indicate endorsement of Adobe Stock’s business practices)

★ SYNOPSIS ★

Two arms, two legs, ten fingers, ten toes.

One brain, seven alter egos and one host.

Sometimes, the numbers just don’t add up.

After more than thirty years in a mental hospital,

dissociative identity disorder patient Lola Murray

thought she’d finally silenced the voices.

But it doesn’t take long for Lola to realize

her alters are back.

This time, they refuse to be silenced.

After months of lying dormant, Lola’s seven alters

are determined to be heard by the world.

Will Lola be strong enough

to reclaim her life?

Or will she once again

allow her alters to take charge?

★ ABOUT THE AUTHOR ★

ERIN LEE

Erin Lee is a freelance writer and therapist living with her family in southern New Hampshire. She is the author of Crazy Like Me, a novel published in 2015 by Savant Books and Publications, LLC, Wave to Papa, 2015, by Limitless Publishing and Nine Lives, 2016 and When I’m Dead, 2016. She’s also author of Limitless’ Alters, the first book in the “Lola, Party of Eight Series,” Host, and Merge, the final books in the series.

Lee holds a master’s degree in psychology and works with at-risk families as a home based therapist and court appointed special children’s advocate. As a therapist, Lee is passionate about mental wellness and helping people who have experienced trauma. She recently contributed to the Semi Colon Project Anonymous anthology, with a revised excerpt of When I’m Dead–“One Good Reason”–in hopes of raising money toward suicide prevention and awareness. Her short story, “Rest in Peace?” will be featured in Limitless’ Thirteen anthology, to be released in October, 2016, and also aimed at raising money toward mental wellness.

I plunder the sea, steal what I can, and never look back. It’s a pirate captain’s life for me. When my crew and I discover a destroyed ship floating on the endless waves, we scavenge it for every scrap of cloth and every morsel of food. Inside, I find a treasure—gold, gems, and a girl. I’ll ravage the girl, spend the gold, and use the gem to buy the ship of my dreams—the Gloomy Lotus. At least that’s the plan—until the Kraken, a whirlpool, and a six-headed beast attack my ship. Despite the danger, I still intend to have my way with the girl. Nothing can stop me. I’m Cash Remington, and I take what I want.

Content Warning: This swashbuckling standalone tale stars an alpha male who takes what he wants. It’s full of sex and violence. It’s an erotic adventure, not a romance, and is not “safe.” If you’re cool with these caveats, enjoy!

I wake when the air in the room shifts. I crack my eyes open. Nere kneels beside the bed and slowly lifts the mattress. She’s after the stone. Little minx. The sun shines in her hair, the light strands almost silver.

I add in a snore so she’ll think I’m still out. A secret smile plays across her pink lips, and she reaches farther underneath me.

In one swift movement, I yank her up and toss her onto the bed next to me. She readies to scream, so I slap a hand over her mouth. I climb on top of her nude body and pin her wrists over her head with one hand. I push one knee between hers, though she tries to clamp her legs together. No chance. I’m far too strong to be denied.

I settle between her legs, and I hiss when my cock rests against her hot pussy, only the fabric of my pants separating me from her.

“A thief?” I glare into her light eyes.

She doesn’t flinch.

“Keep it quiet or I’ll smack you.” I peel my hand from her lips and run it down her side. Her skin is like silk, smooth and warm.

“Get off me.” Her eyes narrow.

“No.” I tighten my grip on her wrists and run my hand beneath her, getting a palm-full of her ass.

“All I want is my stone. Then I’ll go, and you’ll never see me again.”

I knead her flesh, my fingers creeping close to her pussy. “It’s my stone.”

“You stole it!”

I lean down and graze my lips across hers. “I’m a pirate.”

“It’s mine. I’ll get it one way or another.” She glares up at me in challenge, and now I know I have to fuck her. The spirited ones always get to me.

“It seems we’re in a situation. One where I want something, and you want something.” I smirk at her, and her eyes flicker to my lips.

“What do you want?”

I thrust my hips against her. “As if you need to ask.”

She presses her lips into a thin line and glowers at me. “No.”

“Then I guess I’ll take the gem and go. And then you’ll never see me again.” I release her hands and lean away from her. My heart pounds, adrenaline coursing through my veins. I’m toying with her. She’s going to take every inch of me before we leave this room.

“Wait.” She places one of her small hands on my thigh. “If I let you have what you want…” She glances away. “Then you’ll give me the stone?”

No. “Yes.”

“I have your word?” Her eyes sparkle in the noonday sun pouring through the glassless window.

“Of course.” As if the word of a pirate is worth anything.

Celia Aaron is the self-publishing pseudonym of a published romance and erotica author. She loves to write stories with hot heroes and heroines that are twisty and often dark. Thanks for reading.

4 out of 5 read-ologists recommend this WordPress.com site. ups and downs of writer's insanity and day to day life. I will write whatever makes the voices happy, for a writer that ignores her inner voices is merely a mental breakdown waiting to happen. Keeping the voices happy and creating new worlds for them to play in is my main goal.